Sounds unbelievable. But the country’s smallest state, and the only one still governed by the Liberal Party, has a new peak housing body, Homes Tasmania, with a new fired-up board, a new chief executive, and a mandate to “seize opportunities to do things differently”.All Australia faces the challenges of housing supply.
Late last year, the state government established Homes Tasmania, which Minister for State Development, Construction and Housing Guy Barnett said would “provide a dedicated focus on housing and homelessness services, increase the number of social and affordable homes, and have a market-wide view of Tasmania’s housing challenges and opportunities”.
The chairwoman is Michele Adair, a passionate but pragmatic advocate for social and affordable housing, a sector in which she has 30 years’ experience, including two years as chair of the Community Housing Industry Association of NSW. For example, when the government decides to build a regional hospital, housing the builders and healthcare professionals will be part of the decision. Similarly, a Tasmanian housing strategy has to acknowledge the place of tourism.
The government commitment, a $1.5 billion housing package to deliver 10,000 new social and affordable homes and units by 2032, is substantial but will not go close to funding what is necessary.